Apple Fritter Cupcakes with Sugar-Free Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Not too long ago, I did a post on entertaining search terms that are used to find Keepin’ It Kind. These search terms, along with the comments in the spam folder, give me great joy when I read them.

Now I’ve got a few more to add to the list.

To the people who found me with “Money Eating Beagle”: Please elaborate. Was the beagle eating the money or the money eating the beagle? And do you think I could find it on Youtube?

To the person who found me with “sweet potato fries in my cabinet”: Is “cabinet” slang for “tummy”? If that’s so, I’d like to put some sweet potatoes fries in my cabinet too. If not, I think you need to rethink your food storage situation.

To the person who found me with “cylindrical cake fail”: I feel you. Baking cakes is not one of my strengths either, but keep trying!

To the person who found me with “I like the taste of bitter rubber bands”: I have no words…

With the seasons changing, I now have a new most popular search term! It seems that everybody is looking for sugar-free cream cheese frosting, so folks, I’m hooking you up! I wanted to make a more autumnal (I just love that word!) sugar-free cream cheese frosting so I decided to add a bit of cinnamon. With the frosting made, I needed something to put it on. Because I have the best boyfriend in the world (You know him- The Chickpea? Yeah, that Chickpea. He’s so cute, right?), and he’s always trying to help out, he suggested I make the cupcakes with chickpea flour too! I decided that cupcakes made with sweet juicy apples and nutty chickpea flour, topped with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting, sounded too amazing not to make. The result was better than I had imagined: the cinnamon-laced chickpea batter combined with chunks of baked apples reminded me of an apple fritter, disguised as a cake, and the sugar-free cream cheese frosting couldn’t have accentuated these flavors better. I even topped them with some Maple-Glazed Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas and sprinkled them with cinnamon for a little extra flavor punch!

To the people who are searching for “apple fritter cupcakes” or “sugar-free cream cheese frosting,” this one is for you.

Place your apple chunks in a bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Set aside.

Use a whisk to combine all of your dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, mix together your liquid ingredients, including the buttermilk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the apple chunks and mix until the they are thoroughly distributed.

Evenly distribute the batter into each of the cups of the muffin tin until each are about 2/3 – 3/4 of the way full. Place in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the cupcakes comes out clean. Let cool in the tin for about 5 minutes before removing and letting them cool on a cooling rack. Let them cool completely before topping with the frosting. I recommend also decorating them with Maple-Glazed Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas.

for the frosting

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Use a hand mixer to fully combine. Mix until smooth.

If using a pastry bag, pour the frosting into the bag, apply the tip of choice, and place in the refrigerator to chill. You can also use a large sealable plastic bag, and clip one corner, in place of a pastry bag. Whatever you choose, use your bag to squeeze frosting out onto each of the cupcakes.

Alternatively, you can just use a rubber spatula or frosting spreader to apply the frosting. Just chill the frosting until ready to use.

Notes

If you like a big pile of frosting on your cupcake, double the frosting recipe.

3.1

To answer your questions: Yes, it was my first time using a real pastry bag. Yes, I realize it looks like a seven year-old frosted the cupcakes. Yes, I did pretend I was a fancy pastry chef while I did it and yes, I had a blast!

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Ohhhh, these are adorable and gluten-free to boot! Your boyfriend is so versatile!! I will definitely be doubling the frosting recipe (and licking the beaters!) and I think your first time with a pastry bag was a huge success! They look scrumptious!

these look great – I can’t drive a piping bag to save myself so I am impressed with your frosting and I especially love your maple chickpeas on top – brilliant idea!

the search terms are very amusing – I get some odd ones too and just wonder what people are expecting when they put in such search terms and what makes them think my blog might have the answer – but gives me a laugh

I miss acai bowls! With work, I’ve only been able to have them on the weekends, but I guess that just makes me appreciate them more.

I work as a Locations Coordinator (office coordinator for the Locations Department) for film/tv/commercials. Right now, I’m working on a film and my office is all the way in Glendale! It’s a paycheck, though, and it will keep me working up until Christmas which is good and I get to work with my husband so it’s pretty fun. I’m very, very thankful for all of it.

Check this out..didn’t know sambazon was from orange county they just opened a cafe down the street. We went last night had an Acai bowl…talked to the guy about making them too …they have a bar of fresh mangoes coconut granola …
So cool….but still like mine spoiled I guess…
Great news on the job

These look amazing and delicious! I am so horrible at frosting cupcakes, so don’t worry. I think you did a great job.
Once again your search terms are hilarious! I once knew someone that had a dog that liked to eat money…

money eating beagle .. i have no clue why anyone would be searching for that
and these cupcakes surely need to come into my chickpea filled cabinet!:))
love that top shot with the crispy chickpeas on top!

I’m a sucker for cupcakes, and the addition of sugar-free frosting just sealed the deal!
Your search terms are hilarious. I don’t think I have any as odd, but I still wonder how some of the terms lead to my page. Oh well, traffic is traffic, right